The Rebound Effect (UKERC)Title: The Rebound Effect: an assessment of the evidence for economy-wide energy savings from improved energy efficiency.
Author: Steve Sorrell (UK Energy Research Centre)
Published: October 2007
ISBN 1-903144-0-35


This report aims to quantify the extent of rebound effects as energy efficiency measures are implemented across a wide range of situations in developed and developing countries.
An example of the rebound effect is a family employing efficiency methods to reduce their home electricity use but using the savings made to pay for a holiday abroad. The overall effect of reduced emissions due to reduced energy use is counteracted by the emissions from the plane journey. In industry a company reducing energy cost per product may then reduce the price of the product leading to increased orders and increased energy usage.
It is important to include the rebound effect when we consider how much of a reduction a particular efficiency measure or scheme is going to produce. Often basic engineering models are used and these can overestimate the savings.
The report evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of current evidence and the implications for government policy. A key message is that there is not enough evidence for rebound effects to be conclusively quantified.
The implications for government policy are:
1. The potential contribution of energy efficiency policies needs to be reappraised.
2. Rebound effects should be taken into account when developing and targeting energy efficiency policy.
3. Rebound effects may be mitigated through carbon/energy pricing – whether implemented through taxation or an emissions trading scheme.
Read the full report here.
下载地址: http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/07/0710ReboundEffect/0710ReboundEffectReport.pdf